My '85 MGM, "Maisa"

[DerekTheGreat]

The "premium" 6x9's aren't that bad actually. I'm a pretty big fan of the Ford-JBL 6x9's, those kick a lot of ass even by today's standards. JBL was no joke back in those days.

[Arquemann]

I think I'll start off with just replacing the door speakers. Then figure out what do I want to do.
The rear 6x9s seem okay, but they're kinda quiet and the bass is a bit lacking.

A super awkward exchange as I picked up my sister from her practice and she asked if I had had a dog in the back. I had a woman in the backseat... "You slept in the backseat!?" -No, she slept in the back...

[gadget73]

The door and dash speakers get the most abuse. Doors from moisture, dash from sun. The rear decks are generally fine unless the paper has turned to dust. That black cloth generally does a decent job of protecting them and unless the trunk leaks they don't tend to get damp.


and ladies hair in the back seat is usually not from "sleeping"

[Arquemann]

Bought a pair of JBL Stage 3 527 5.25" coaxial speakers for the doors. Also some bitumin mat.


No wonder the sound from the doors was kinda shit and quiet!

Got the drivers side done today and was rudely interrupted by rain, other side is for tomorrow.
Had to drill 2 new holes, top 2 lined up but the other 2 didn't. Put some foam tape between the speaker and door like factory. Fitted some of the bitumin mat on the inside door skin, not too much space due to the crash bar in the door, but even a little bit helps since there's so much flat sheetmetal.
Also had to put the speaker (logo) upside down as the wires were a bit too short, oh well.
End result and impressions coming (hopefully) tomorrow.

and ladies hair in the back seat is usually not from "sleeping"

I wish... So far it has been 3 times her actually sleeping. The chick in question seems to be real good at leaving her hair everywhere, blonde, pink, blue, sometimes red. I guess that has something to with it.
Even if I got the chance to not sleep -sleep back there, dunno if I'd want to risk the mint plush seats.

[DerekTheGreat]

I think I'll start off with just replacing the door speakers. Then figure out what do I want to do.
The rear 6x9s seem okay, but they're kinda quiet and the bass is a bit lacking...

The factory Ford-JBL 6x9's have great bass. I didn't notice any improvement in that department when I moved from those to JBL Power Series 6x9's in my Townie.

Bought a pair of JBL Stage 3 527 5.25" coaxial speakers for the doors...

...I wish... So far it has been 3 times her actually sleeping. The chick in question seems to be real good at leaving her hair everywhere, blonde, pink, blue, sometimes red. I guess that has something to with it.
Even if I got the chance to not sleep -sleep back there, dunno if I'd want to risk the mint plush seats.

Make memories. No one would ever suspect what kind of debauchery my Lincoln has seen from how it still presents.

[Arquemann]

Make memories.

Oh definitely, can't avoid it. This car is my first step to american cars, "jänkare" as I would say. From the painful (and regretful) drive home, to the first long roadtrip, to the moment I got the major engine issue fixed, and every damn cruise night with my friends.

Relaxed moments, anxious moments, laughing so hard I can't see the road -moments, all those. The best moments are when I have friends in the car and we just cruise. Getting the "yank wave" the first time, overhearing my dad saying that "atleast he got a Ford", bullshitting cops about a broken speedo (avoiding a speeding ticket), waking up with in the car after a party with some chick next to me, getting pulled over with me and 5 chicks in the car, helping a broken Supra get home with it's bumper in my trunk, the faces of my spanish co-workers when they realized it was my car, all the quiet talks with a friends little sister taking her home from parties late at night, the few questions I got when someone was actually interested in my car at a cruise, the feeling of being a part of something.

I haven't had a girlfriend since 2016, for a couple years I was okay with being alone, then it slowly started to gnaw. This car came in the perfect time to fill the void and keep me going. It's not doing that anymore, and now it somehow reminds me about being alone.

I couldn't fathom getting rid of the car anytime soon, too many memories attached, I'm not nearly bored enough of the car. The car is great, but in the eyes of the american car culture here, it's nothing really, an upstart, barely deserving respect as a yank car. That is by far the biggest of the cars problems, and it isn't even the car's fault. I'm thinking if I'll make it a sleeper or make it stand out someway, I'd get the approval of the yank scene. To the older folks, the MGM is just a sedan version of the beat-to-shit wagons that nobody gave a flying fuck about.

What comes to the girl that's been with me here and there... When I first met her at a party, I did shoot my shot and asked her out, but it led to us being friends. It's great that I can still spend time with her, but it's taken a year already to get over her in that sense. But I take care of her since I really want keep her around, she's lovely as a friend aswell. I'm friends with her two brothers and they certainly told that they appreciate me taking care of her. She usually takes of her brothers, instead of the other way around, and sometimes she really needs someone to lean on.
And now she's starting studies over 400 kilometers away, and yet another of my friends will just become another face in a snapchat.
Maybe that'll help my heart move on though.

[bnw]

The car is great, but in the eyes of the american car culture here, it's nothing really, an upstart, barely deserving respect as a yank car.

To be honest, the only thing that counts, is your own opinion on the matter. If the culture does not see your car as a one deserving respect, than they can go and choke on Ded Moroz' dick. That's a kind of a cancer that troubles this community not only in your country. Every meeting, amcar cruise night etc. means a number of standard movie-prop cars. Mustangs, muscle cars resembling the Dukes of Hazzard Charger, maybe a late P71, Rams, etc. I was asked a few days ago to visit one of the biggest amcar shows, and openly said that The Colon is out, and I don't know if it ever returns to use. The guy simply said: "then take Escort. Guaranteed nobody is going to take such a car there, and that will be something!".
In my personal opinion, the "real" amcars, the cars that actually were popular and bring back memories to their former users, are Gremlins, Pacers, Hornets, Crown Vics, Caprices... and while I have seen most of the top-end Mustangs, Eleanor Shelby lookalikes, or Chargers, never ever have I seen an AMC Hornet with a 3-speed automatic transmission, and an inline-six.

And now she's starting studies over 400 kilometers away, and yet another of my friends will just become another face in a snapchat.
Maybe that'll help my heart move on though.

I am a total shit when it comes to this kind of discussion, and neither I feel like I am entitled to give any advice in the matter, but a break certainly helps. Especially, as you got really entangled in that situation, mate.

[gadget73]

I've never owned the "right" car. The only person that needs to like it is you, pay no attention to what anyone else thinks.

[matth825]

I couldn't fathom getting rid of the car anytime soon, too many memories attached, I'm not nearly bored enough of the car. The car is great, but in the eyes of the american car culture here, it's nothing really, an upstart, barely deserving respect as a yank car. That is by far the biggest of the cars problems, and it isn't even the car's fault. I'm thinking if I'll make it a sleeper or make it stand out someway, I'd get the approval of the yank scene. To the older folks, the MGM is just a sedan version of the beat-to-shit wagons that nobody gave a flying fuck about.

What comes to the girl that's been with me here and there... When I first met her at a party, I did shoot my shot and asked her out, but it led to us being friends. It's great that I can still spend time with her, but it's taken a year already to get over her in that sense. But I take care of her since I really want keep her around, she's lovely as a friend aswell. I'm friends with her two brothers and they certainly told that they appreciate me taking care of her. She usually takes of her brothers, instead of the other way around, and sometimes she really needs someone to lean on.
And now she's starting studies over 400 kilometers away, and yet another of my friends will just become another face in a snapchat.
Maybe that'll help my heart move on though.

The only thing that matters is that you like the car. If other people judge/criticize you for it then they can go stick it. That’s why I got my 85 CV…I like it, it suits my style and it brings back happy memories of my youth. If people don’t approve of it remind them that you bought it for yourself and not for them. What they think doesn’t matter. You’re having fun with it making memories. That’s what matters.

In regards to the girl if you still want to be more than friends with her you need to let her go and move on to other women. You shot your shot and she wasn’t interested. The friend zone is no place to be. That energy can go into meeting women that will be into you. Take it from an older guy who has been there and done that.


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[Arquemann]

Thanks for the nice words.
Women aren't hard, dealing with a dumb heart is. With her, the zone in friendzone is gone and what's left is a genuinely good friend. I appreciate our friendship and she does too. My heart just hasn't given up yet, even though I have...
I'm not losing her, I never had her. I'm not losing a friend either, she's just moving away so she's not going to be around. That's the worst part.

It's a tough place to be, I moved out of my home town to study, and now I'm back already, lost and drifting. Most of my friends are not around. I got a new friend out of her when there weren't many friends here, but she's a few years younger so now it's her turn to leave the nest, so to say.

And for my car, I want to make it a hotrod. But I'm broke as fuck. I have ideas from mild to wild, but I have no place or money, only time. Having too much time is a curse.
Atleast my friends like my car, those who have old american cars appreciate how nice it is, others appreciate that I bought and fixed it myself, nobody's handed me a damn thing.

[Arquemann]

Anyways, the stereo system!

Sounds pretty good, I definitely achieved my goal of beating the travel speaker. Only thing I have to say that the bass is a bit lacking for my taste. I think swapping out the rear 6x9s will take care of that, but I'm probably not doing it quite yet, maybe not this season.
On the head unit, bass is maxed out and treble is a down a bit. Pretty good. Fader is quite a bit rearwards to get a balanced sound.

As I mentioned, I had to install the speakers upside down due to short wires, no problem with that, but instead of an exclamation mark, I have a ladies room symbol peeking through the door panel


Also installed some foam on the door panel grilles to prevent them from possibly rattling against the speakers.

The little bit of bitumin mat I installed in the doors probably helps alot, since now the doors vibrate quite a bit. Closing the doors still isn't the vault door thunk I'd like, but it's fiiiine.

Total budget: Speakers 59,90€ plus 18,90€ for the bitumin mat and foam. I guess I should change the front brakes since this stereo upgrade turned out cheap.

[Arquemann]

Still trying to figure out the jerky decel...
Just a couple random things I tested today:
- Checked the TPS, I had a hunch it could be adjusted wrong after I messed with the idle speed some time ago. This was not the case. Also checked the full sweep for dead spots, nothing like that.
- Read the engine fault codes for shits and giggles. Codes 81 and 82, Air management 1 & 2 circuit failure. I have both thermactor solenoids unplugged since my air pump is in a box in a shed...
- Drove around with the O2 sensor unplugged, now this did something!

I'm not sure if I'm finally going out of my mind, but the car seemed to idle smoother with lambda sensor unplugged. No change on the jerky decel/coasting though. Since this car supposedly runs quite rich on idle, maybe unplugging the sensor got the mixtures leaner, so the idle doesn't buck around as much.
Or it could've just been she's having a good day today and playing nice for ONCE.

I don't know what to check anymore, the CFI has been a bitch ever since I bought this thing.
Gonna order a CARBURETOR during the winter if there's nothing more to fix. I'll post a list of things done so you folks can try and find something that's not been tried yet.


Other things:
- I don't think I've got proper heat in the cabin anymore, I can get the interior to warm up slowly, but HI/LO heat doesn't really blow warm at all. Is it my turn for the HVAC sensor hillbillycat & Lutrova fought with? EDIT: Reading the HVAC sticky, I indeed don't have a blower on floor either, this requires more attention than anticipated. But having some heat might indicate that my problem isnt necessarily the HVAC sensor.
- I have wheel bearings coming, and I'll be picking up new front rotors and wheel seals locally.

[Arquemann]

Bypassed the thermal blower lockout today, indeed it was the reason for not having a blower on "floor" mode.
I fired up the car and it started warming up, I did start to get warm-ish air from the vents. Didn't have time to fully let the engine warm up, it'll get there some of these nights. But it sounds like the vacuum action going from full cold to full hot is kinda dubious. Very short and a bit crispy sounding.

If I don't get proper hot heat, I'll need to check on the blend door servo and then probably curse at the ATC sensor.
HVAC stuff and troubleshooting is to me like the worst thing to deal with in cars...

[matth825]

If you go carb have you thought about what you’ll do for the AOD TV linkage? The Lokar cable seems to be the only aftermarket option (unless you plan on going with a motorcraft 2150 carb with the AOD linkage). From what I’ve read it’s not the greatest.

I’m curious because when my CFI shits the bed and repair is no longer feasible I want to go with a Holley carb and some alternative to the Lokar setup.


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[Arquemann]

If you go carb have you thought about what you’ll do for the AOD TV linkage? The Lokar cable seems to be the only aftermarket option (unless you plan on going with a motorcraft 2150 carb with the AOD linkage). From what I’ve read it’s not the greatest.

I’m curious because when my CFI shits the bed and repair is no longer feasible I want to go with a Holley carb and some alternative to the Lokar setup.


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So far I've been planning to go with the 2150 for two main reasons: simple and cheap.
I've chatted with a fellow finnish box owner who managed to get a TV rod to work on a 351W with a 4bbl and performer intake. He manhandled the shit out if it, flipped the operation to pull instead of push at the carb and rewelded the trans end a bit shorter.
And he said that's it was a dumb idea from the start, but he didn't want to get the Lokar cable, so he spent a whole weekend pushing, pulling, bending and twisting the old factory rod. I wasn't even a rod from a 351...